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Tokyo Robotics Inc.

Category: Robotics / Embodied AI

A Waseda University spinoff specializing in force-controlled humanoid robots designed for safe human-robot coexistence and sophisticated manipulation in unstructured environments. Tokyo Robotics Inc. was founded in 2015. The company is led by Yoshihiro Sakamoto. Based in Tokyo, Japan. Team size: 25-50. Total funding raised: $2.66M. Latest round: Corporate Round ($1.33M, Dec 2021). Key investors include ["Yaskawa Electric Corporation","Igarashi Electric Works","Yamaha Motor","NTT Docomo Ventures"].

Founded
2015
Headquarters
Tokyo, Japan
Team size
25-50
Total funding
$2.66M

Value proposition

Enables robots to perform delicate tasks and operate safely alongside humans through high-precision force control and impedance control, overcoming the limitations of traditional position-controlled industrial robots.

Products and solutions

["Torobo (Full-body humanoid research platform with 24 axes)","Torobo Arm (Force-controlled 6-axis/7-axis robotic arms)","Toala (Cost-effective humanoid using current-based torque estimation)","Tolon (Mobile single-arm manipulator)","Torobo Hand (High-dexterity robotic hand)"]

Unique value

Developed advanced 'whole-body force control' technology that utilizes torque sensors on every axis (in flagship models), allowing robots to 'feel' and react to external forces instantly.

Target customer

Academic and corporate research institutes, logistics companies, advanced manufacturing firms, and medical/service providers.

Industries served

["Academia & Robotics Research","Logistics (Picking & Sorting)","Advanced Manufacturing (Fragile Assembly)","Service & Medical Robotics"]

Technology advantage

Maintains a competitive edge in soft manipulation (handling non-rigid or fragile items) and safety by integrating force-feedback algorithms that prevent accidental injury or damage during human interaction.

How they differentiate

Proprietary 'force control' technology using joint torque sensors and impedance control, enabling robots to handle fragile objects and interact safely with humans in unstructured environments, unlike traditional position-controlled industrial robots.

Main competitors

["Telexistence","Kawada Robotics","Gitai","Mujin"]

Key partnerships

["Yaskawa Electric Corporation (Parent company/Acquirer)","Igarashi Electric Works (Strategic investment & motor collaboration)","Waseda University (Academic research partner)","NTT (Collaboration on LLM-integrated robotics research)"]

Notable customers

["Waseda University","NTT","Academic and Corporate Research Institutes"]

Major milestones

["Founded in 2015 as a Waseda University spinoff","Secured capital and technical alliance with Yamaha Motor in Jan 2020","Won the 5th IP BASE AWARD Grand Prix (Startup Category) in 2024","Acquired by Yaskawa Electric Corporation as a wholly-owned subsidiary in July 2025"]

Growth metrics

Maintained profitable operations for its first 5 years solely through the sale of research robots (Torobo series) before accepting external investment.

Market positioning

Advanced R&D and service robotics leader specializing in human-coexistence humanoid platforms and sophisticated manipulation.

Geographic focus

Japan (primary focus), expanding to global markets through parent company Yaskawa Electric's international network.

Patents and IP

Winner of the 5th IP BASE AWARD Grand Prix (2024) for excellence in IP strategy; holds significant patents in force-generation control devices and robotic actuation methods.

About Yoshihiro Sakamoto

Yoshihiro Sakamoto holds a Ph.D. in Engineering from Waseda University. He previously served as a researcher at RIKEN and Waseda University focusing on cognitive robotics. He gained industrial experience at Denso Corporation, where he worked on AI-based autonomous driving technology, and at ALBERT Inc., where he specialized in reinforcement learning research before founding Tokyo Robotics in 2015.

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